Providence St. Joseph’s Health and Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett identifies itself as a nonprofit or “not-for-profit,” emphasizing the organization’s defining criteria to provide goods services without seeking profits for private gain. If this is truly the objective of Providence and they stand by their stated values of compassion, dignity, justice, integrity and excellence than why does it money trail state otherwise?

Removing previously earned sick leave without just compensation, forcing employees to go through an L&I claim process to receive sick leave compensation, removing the earned sick leave from signed nurses contract in retrospect, does not fit into those values.

Providence Everett is now planning to charge employees, patients and visitors for parking in the garage. This after providing the garage with a promise to the neighbourhoods surrounding the hospital the streets would not be flooded with parking from the hospital.

Is it because Providence is in a financial crisis? If so, then perhaps it is not wise not give your local CEO a $100,000 bonus and the head CEO $10 million. I have seen some editorial letters addressing these issues but have not seen news articles or news stories bring the greed of this organization and the outright lack of integrity and disrespect of their employees and the community they claim to serve, to light. It seems like a reflection of the leadership I mentioned at the beginning of this letter.

Providence was founded by nuns for the purpose of serving the community, not to get rich from them. If we the people don’t call for change and accountability, then who will?

Amiee Lambright

Everett